An Overview of State Laws and Approaches to Minimize Licensure Barriers

Telemedicine can be broadly defined as the use of telecommunication technologies to provide medical information.  A telemedicine system can be as simple as a computer hookup to a medical reference source or as advanced as robotic surgery.  Since telemedicine involves practicing medicine across state and/or international borders several licensure questions arise. Must a physician be licensed in the state or nation where he is located, the state or nation where the telecommunication connection is being made, or both?  This article will focus on licensure issues and barriers.